Improvement in envelopes



J. H. WEAVER.

Envelope.

No. 209,593. 1. Patented Nov. '5, 1878.

I NVENT on:

fliiesir WASI-HNGTON D C N. PETERS,

UNITE a JAMES H. WEAVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN .ENVELOPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,593, dated November 5, 1878; application filed May 24, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES HENRY WEAVER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postal Envelopes and Packets, of which the following, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification:

Figure l in the drawing is a perspective representation of an envelope or packet embodyin g my invention; Fig. 2, a section in the plane of the line as m; Fig. 3, a section in the plane of the line 3 y; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views of the parts applied to the body' of the envelope or packet, and to which further reference will be hereinafter made; and Fig. Sis a cross-section through the central part of the body, sack, or case, and indicating a modicat-ion in the construction thereof, represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The rules and regulations of the Post-Office Department, as is well known, require that certain matter deposited in the mails shall be so enveloped or wrapped when deposited that the matter may be inspected by the postmaster or his assistants, so that it may be determined what amount of postage is necessary, and whether the proper amount has been tendered.

My invention relates to envelopes or packets of this class, and my purpose is to provide means whereby the sender may securely enwrap the matter to be mailed, and whereby the post-office agents may examine the contents of the wrapper without injury thereto, and afterward seal up the same with facility.

To this end my invention consists of an envelope, packet, or wrapper embodying in its construction the several novel features hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the final summary of my invention.

' In the drawing, A represents an envelope, packet, or wrapper illustrating my invention. B is the body or sack. This sack or body may be made in any suitable way, one end being left open. As shown in the drawing, it is made by so folding a sheet of paper or other suitable material that two of its edges may be lapped sufficiently to be firmly united by means of some adhesive substance, as indicated at a, Fig. 8. I then fold the upper end of the sack .once or twice upon itself, so as to close that end, as shown at a, leaving the folded parts loose. I then fold another piece, 0, centrally, so as to form two flaps, b and b. The folded end of the part 0 is applied to the upper end or part of the body A by means of some adhesive material, and arranged just below the lowest cross-fold along the upper part of the body, the flaps b and I) being left free at their outer ends, but made to adhere to each other at their inner or upper ends. The adhesion last referred to, however, is not essential, but preferable, in order to prevent the flap b from becoming accidentally detached by cracking along the fold of the part 0.

It is also obvious that the flaps b and b, or the strip 0 of which they are a part, need not necessarily be made in one piece.

When the upper end of the body A and the flaps b and b are folded for use the position of the folded parts with relation to each other is as indicated in Fig. 1, the body being folded down on the adhering end of the part 0, and.

the free ends or flaps b and I) being folded up and overthe folded end of. the body. That face of the flap I) thus brought against the body A is coated with dry mucilage.

,D is a band or clasp, extending laterally across the upper part of the body A. The ends of the strip D are attached to the body A; but the central part is left free or open, the open part being upon that side of the body against which the flap b is to be folded.

E is a loose flap or tongue, arranged underneath the strip'or clasp D, and shouldered, as shown at 0 c, to prevent this flap from being drawn upward through the clasp. The inner face of the upper part of the flap'E is coated with dry mucilage.

The lower part of the bodyAis closed from or near the point or line 01 downward by means of mucilage or other adhesive substance, and upon these adhering parts a binding-strip or stiffening, F, is pasted. The lower end of the sack is not only thus closed, but made flat and stiff, and it retains its flat form when the remaining part of the sack is filled. The flaps need not be gummed until used.

In order to use this envelope or packet for the purposes above set forth, the open end of the body or sack should be unfolded, if necessary, on account of previous folding, and then filled with the matter to be mailed, or partly filled therewith, according to the amount of matter. The top of the sack should then be folded down upon the base of the part 0, as hereinbefore described, and the flaps b and b folded up and over the folded end of the sack, as shown in Fig. 1. The gummed end of the flap E should then be moistened and made to adhere to the flap 1), the flap E being first drawn up as far as the shoulders c 0 will permit. The envelope is now ready to be mailed.

It may be here stated that the upper end of the sack need not necessarily be folded, as described, in order to cause the sack to retain some kinds of matter with certainty, provided the flaps b and b are long enough to be folded, as described, without also folding in the upper end of the sack. For example, flower-bulbs and large seeds will be securely retained if the sack or body A be not so folded; but to securely retain very small seeds and pulverized orfine-grained matter the sack should be folded across the top, as described. When the envelope or packet thus filled and made secure at the top reaches the oflice, the postmaster or his assistants may examine the contents by seizing the shouldered end of the flap E and tearing away this flap.

To facilitate the removal of the flap E the clasp D may be perforated, if deemed best, as shown at e e. In tea-ring away the flap E the flap b will also be liable to be torn away or injured, as it adheres to the flap E. When the flap E is thus removed the upper end of the sack may be readily opened and the contents inspected. The lower end of the sack, being flat and stiff, serves as a tag, on which the stamps are to be placed, and they may thus be easily seen and canceled without difficulty by means of the canceling stamps or dies ordinarily used for such purposes. If, after the examination of the contents, the postage-stamps are found to be sufficient, the envelope or packet may be sealed by moistening the gnmmed side of the flap b and sticking it to the sack or body A, the parts being first folded, as described, in order to close the mouth of the sack.

It will be perceived that the flap E, instead of being gummed to cause it to adhere to the flap 1), may be continuous therewith, and in the latter case the shoulders a 0 may be either torn away or folded in to admit of the opening of as specified, with relation to each other and the mouth or open end of the pouch, for the purposes set forth.

2. The sack or pouch B, having its front and back stuck or fastened together at one end to there form a flat surface or stamp-tag, and open at the other end and there folded by laying the front and back of the pouch upon the front thereof, in combination with the flaps I) and b and a flap upon the front of the pouch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of the flaps b and b, the shouldered tongue or flap E, the clasp D, and the sack B, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JAMES HENRY WEAVER.

Witnesses:

MARTIN BEAN, THOMAS TILLEY. 

